Year 9 Football team lose out to League Champions!

The Sirius Academy Year 9 Football team tonight had their 1st game of the season, and possibly one of their toughest against last seasons League Champions, St Marys College. The boys had beaten Marys last season in the County Cup Final, and Marys came intent on revenge, and with the visitors competing in their third game of the season, the Sirius team were up against it.

The game started in awful conditions that didnt improve much throughout, with both teams starting slowly. Sirius' early attacks were best led through Oliver Russell and Kenan Stephenson getting behind the Marys back four. Sirius' best chance fell to Joseph Wood, who followed in Stephensons cross but couldnt keep his shot below the bar. When called upon the Sirius back four of Robbie Hird, Luke Collingwood, Callum Magee and the outstanding Jordan Wardell stood strong. With little chances been created, captain Luke Salas tested the keeper from distance. In the Sirius goal Kieran Bartlett was alert well to any threats over the top. The first half cam to an end at 0-0.

Sirius came out slowly in the 2nd half, with Marys creating several half chances, one leading to an excellent Bartlett save when the dangerous Marys striker was through on goal. Sirius struggled in the conditions to control the ball, with Chris Brown working hard in-front of the back four to cut out attacks. With ten minutes remaining a defensive mistake allowed the Marys striker to fire home for 1-0. This seemed to spark Sirius, with Salas leading the way. After several attacks it was Salas who sent Stephenson wide, who then beat a defender and crossed for Salas to push home for a 1-1 score with 4 minutes left. Sirius continued to push and with a corner in the last minute they looked for the winner, the ball didnt fall, and Marys broke upfield and a speculative shot looped over Bartlett for a 2-1 score in what proved to be the last kick of the game.